Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	Retained Earnings	Total Albemarle Shareholders' Equity	Non-controlling Interests
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		112,219,351
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 3,401,313	$ 1,122	$ 2,059,151	$ (421,288)	$ 1,615,407	$ 3,254,392	$ 146,921
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(67,206)				(86,635)	(86,635)	19,429
Other comprehensive income	46,267			45,832		45,832	435
Cash dividends declared	(85,584)				(68,530)	(68,530)	(17,054)
Stock-based compensation and other	8,560		8,560			8,560
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		93,719
Exercise of stock options	4,940	$ 1	4,939			4,940
Tax benefit related to stock plans	38		38			38
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		113,235
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 1	(1)			0
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(35,367)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(1,982)	$ 0	(1,982)			(1,982)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2016		112,390,938
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2016	3,306,346	$ 1,124	2,070,705	(375,456)	1,460,242	3,156,615	149,731
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2016				(331,663)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(302,754)
Other comprehensive income	(43,641)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2016		112,390,938
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2016	3,306,346	$ 1,124	2,070,705	(375,456)	1,460,242	3,156,615	149,731
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		112,523,790
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	3,942,604	$ 1,125	2,084,418	(412,412)	2,121,931	3,795,062	147,542
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	176,346				154,546	154,546	21,800
Other comprehensive income	116,272			115,579		115,579	693
Cash dividends declared	(88,815)				(70,885)	(70,885)	(17,930)
Stock-based compensation and other	8,216		8,216			8,216
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		62,399
Exercise of stock options	3,337	$ 1	3,336			3,337
Shares repurchased (in shares)		(2,341,083)
Shares repurchased	(250,000)	$ (23)	(249,977)			(250,000)
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		235,005
Issuance of common stock, net	0	$ 2	(2)			0
Termination of Tianqi Lithium Corporation option agreement	0		13,144			13,144	(13,144)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances (in shares)		(88,984)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances	(8,169)	$ (1)	(8,168)			(8,169)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2017		110,391,127
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2017	3,899,791	$ 1,104	1,850,967	(296,833)	2,205,592	3,760,830	138,961
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2017				(346,981)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	113,689
Other comprehensive income	50,380
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2017		110,391,127
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2017	$ 3,899,791	$ 1,104	$ 1,850,967	$ (296,833)	$ 2,205,592	$ 3,760,830	$ 138,961